The Courageous Leaders Podcast

Joanna Howes
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level.  So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive.  Who is Joanna Howes? Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author.  Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders. Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees.  Website: https://thechangecreators.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@courageousleaderspodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.changecreators/Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/courageous_leaders/ Newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

  1. Esther Marshall on Grief, High Achievement, Emotional Resilience & Holding It All Together

    Jun 11

    Esther Marshall on Grief, High Achievement, Emotional Resilience & Holding It All Together

    Some people don’t just achieve, they achieve as though their life depends on it. In this deeply honest episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Esther Marshall, former global gender diversity leader at Unilever and founder of Sophie Says, to ask a question so many of us avoid: who are you when achievement isn’t enough? This is a conversation about grief, high achievement, emotional resilience, and the pressure of holding everything together when life refuses to cooperate. Esther shares her story with extraordinary openness: losing her sister Rebecca to suicide, caring for grandparents through Alzheimer’s, a miscarriage during IVF, and losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, all while building a business and refusing to stop proving herself. It is also the story of the breakthrough that finally let her stop failing quietly and start succeeding loudly. If you have ever tied your worth to what you achieve, this one will stay with you. If you or someone you know is affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7, on 116 123 or at samaritans.org. What We Cover: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Why "High Achiever" Can Tip Into "Never Enough" 04:41 Climbing the Ladder at Unilever, and Being "Hard to Manage" 10:14 Leading a Team When Your Standards Are Sky High 11:37 The Maternity Leave Project That Became Sophie Says 14:29 Losing Rebecca to Suicide 16:34 The Book Written the Night She Passed Away 20:21 The Rainbow, and Learning to Let People In 21:29 Carrying a Legacy, and the Weight That Comes With It 23:08 Alzheimer's, and Grief That Wouldn't Stop 24:18 IVF, Miscarriage, and Learning to Keep Going 25:48 The "Miracle" Baby, and a Mother's Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis 30:13 Why She Chose to Run a Marathon the Day Her Mum Died 34:52 The Therapy Breakthrough That Changed Everything 38:46 "I'm Failing Quietly, but I Want to Succeed Loudly" 41:00 Building Sophie Says Into a Movement for Generational Change 48:53 Learning to Walk Before Running Again 50:13 A Message for Anyone Sitting in Fear, Ready to Begin 51:40 What Courage Really Means to Esther Key Reflections: • Why high achievement can quietly become a form of self-harm • Why grief isn't something you "get over," and why returning to normal too quickly often makes healing harder • How to separate your self-worth from your achievements and results • Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness • How changing the way you frame a failure can completely reshape your life • Why children need emotionally safe parents, not perfect ones Esther’s honesty is a reminder that courage isn’t the absence of pain, it’s getting up and showing up through it. If this episode moves you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments. Find out more about Sophie Says: https://www.sophiesaysofficial.com/ Follow Esther Masrshall: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiesaysofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrievingfounder 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    57 min
  2. Why a ‘C’ in your Title Doesn’t Automatically Make You an Executive Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    Jun 4

    Why a ‘C’ in your Title Doesn’t Automatically Make You an Executive Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    Why are so many executive teams underperforming? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I break down the biggest leadership mistakes I see inside executive teams today, from social loafing and siloed thinking to oversized leadership teams and “Game of Thrones” behaviour at the top of organisations. I explore why executive leadership is about far more than titles, why leadership teams must operate collectively instead of protecting departments, and why CEOs need the courage to reshape teams when they are no longer serving the business. If your leadership team feels political, disconnected, slow, or overly comfortable, this episode will challenge how you think about executive leadership. What We Cover: 00:00 – Why executive teams lose effectiveness 00:52 – Why titles do not equal executive leadership 01:24 – The danger of oversized executive teams 02:24 – Executive teams acting like working groups 02:42 – “Game of Thrones” leadership behaviour explained 03:07 – Why the executive team must become the first team 03:52 – Why CEOs need the courage to challenge comfort Key Leadership Insights • Executive teams shape what becomes acceptable in company culture • Leadership titles do not automatically create leadership capability • High-performing executive teams think collectively, not territorially • Oversized leadership teams slow down decision-making and accountability • CEOs must be willing to challenge comfort and restructure leadership teams • The behaviour at the top becomes the standard for the entire company Reflection Questions for Leaders • Is my executive team truly operating as one team? • Where are politics or silos damaging decision-making? • Have titles become more important than impact? • What difficult leadership change am I avoiding right now? 🎧 Listen to the full episode for the best practical leadership coaching: https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ 🚀 Ready to elevate your team and leadership? Book time for transformative coaching and training: Website: https://www.thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ 👍 Stay inspired – subscribe, leave a comment, and help us build a community of courageous leaders across the UK. → Want honest leadership insights in your inbox? 👉 Sign up to the newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54 #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipTeam #CompanyCulture #CEO #CourageousLeaders 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    4 min
  3. Rory Sutherland on Leadership, Courage & Unconventional Thinking

    May 21

    Rory Sutherland on Leadership, Courage & Unconventional Thinking

    We often hear the ideas of great thinkers, but rarely get to understand how they actually think or who they are as people. In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I am joined by Rory Sutherland, President Emeritus of Ogilvy UK, best-selling author, and one of the most influential voices in advertising, behavioural science, and decision-making. If you’ve ever wondered why some ideas take off and others die fast, why the little things in business matter more than you think, or how to rethink productivity for your team, you’ll find something practical and eye-opening in this conversation. We cut through business theory and get honest about human behaviour, team culture, and leadership decisions that work in the real world. You’ll come away with new ways to look at decision-making, organisational performance, and what it takes to lead bravely in uncertain times, especially with the rise of AI, complexity, and shifting workplace cultures. What We Cover: 00:00 Intro 01:41 Dare to Be Trivial: Why Small Things Matter 13:23 Leadership, Influence & The Power of Great Teachers 14:50 Why Business Is Learned Through Real Experience 18:03 Time, Stress & How Rory Thinks About Control 24:12 Creativity, Uncertainty & Not Knowing Yet 28:00 What Leaders Miss in Strategy & Collective Thinking 30:17 Why Human Businesses May Win in an AI World 34:51 Why Teams Fail & The Problem with Over-Measuring 35:45 The Disappearance of PAs & What It Means for Leaders 36:55 Redundancies & The Danger of Short-Term Thinking 40:34 How Rory’s Mind Works & Why He Avoids Talking About Himself 49:45 The Influence of His Mum & Understanding Human Behaviour 51:22 Neurodiversity Is a Feature, Not a Bug 54:24 Final Reflections & Closing Thoughts Key Leadership Insights • Why great leaders focus on influence, not control • How creativity comes from being comfortable with uncertainty • Why measuring individuals destroys team performance • The hidden cost of short-term thinking in leadership • How silos quietly break organisations from within • Why neurodiversity is a competitive advantage, not a weakness • The courage required to back ideas others doubt • Why founder-led businesses often outperform corporates If you want to lead better, think differently, and understand how great leaders actually operate, this episode will challenge how you see leadership. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    57 min
  4. The Challenge & Care Framework for Better Leadership & Culture | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    May 14

    The Challenge & Care Framework for Better Leadership & Culture | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    Is your company culture too nice to perform? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I break down the Challenge & Care Framework and why many teams are stuck in cultures that feel good on the surface but quietly damage standards, accountability, and results. I explore the four zones every workplace can fall into: apathy, comfort, fear, and courage, and how the best teams combine high care with high challenge. Because great leadership is not about being nice or being tough. It is about creating an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and clear on what excellence looks like. If your team avoids hard conversations, lacks accountability, or feels stuck, this episode will help you identify why and what to change next. What We Cover: 00:00 – Is your culture too nice to perform? 00:23 – The Challenge & Care Framework explained 00:33 – The Apathy Zone: low care, low challenge 00:50 – The Comfort Zone: high care, low challenge 01:46 – The Fear Zone: high challenge, low care 02:24 – The Courage Zone: where high performance lives 02:58 – What true high performance actually means 03:31 – Compassionate feedback as the key skill 03:44 – Start with your leadership team first 04:04 – Your current zone explains your results Reflection Questions for Leaders • Where am I over-helping instead of empowering? • What am I still controlling that I should let go? • Which conversation am I avoiding right now? • Where have I been indirect instead of honest? 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    5 min
  5. Why We Need to Talk About Death, Sex & Money More Than Ever | Charlotte Pearce

    May 7

    Why We Need to Talk About Death, Sex & Money More Than Ever | Charlotte Pearce

    Why do we avoid talking about sex, death, and money when they shape so much of our lives? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I am joined by Charlotte Pearce, an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and CEO & Founder of Inkpact, who is reinventing direct mail into a future-facing medium rooted in human connection and behavioural science. From leading 150 people at just 19 to building a business through uncertainty, motherhood, loss, and reinvention, Charlotte’s journey is a powerful lesson in leadership and life. In this conversation, we explore growth, confidence, self-expression, and why even the strongest leaders need support. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and turning life’s biggest challenges into opportunities for growth. We Cover: 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Charlotte’s early influences and entrepreneurial mindset 05:20 – Leading 150 people at 19 years old 09:00 – Building Inkpact and creating a new category 10:30 – Leadership lessons, humility, and evolving as a founder 12:00 – Why every leader needs coaches, mentors, and support 13:50 – Crisis year: motherhood, business pressure, and cashflow stress 16:00 – Family loss, grief, and holding everything together 20:20 – Why we need to talk more about death 21:30 – Why sex, money, and hard conversations matter 24:40 – Sexuality, confidence, and female self-expression 28:50 – Money mindset, ambition, and owning success 32:30 – The surrender experiment and letting go of control 36:00 – Burnout, stress, and protecting your energy 39:00 – Comparison, identity, and success on your own terms 45:00 – Courage to be yourself and change direction 48:00 – Letting go, having fun again, and final reflections If you are navigating change, building something meaningful, or ready to stop shrinking yourself, this conversation will stay with you. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    55 min
  6. How to Know If You Are Emotionally Fit as a Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    Apr 30

    How to Know If You Are Emotionally Fit as a Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    Most leaders are never trained in how to manage their emotions. In this solo episode, I break down emotional fitness and why it plays a critical role in leadership, decision-making, and performance. When emotions take over, we react instead of respond, avoid difficult conversations, and make decisions driven by fear rather than values. I explore the difference between emotionally fit and emotionally unfit leadership, along with practical ways to build awareness, regulate emotions, and lead with clarity under pressure. If you want to improve how you show up as a leader, this is a skill you can’t afford to ignore. What We Cover:  00:00 Introduction: The skill leaders aren’t trained in  01:00 Why emotions override logic  01:30 What emotional fitness really means  02:10 Emotionally fit vs unfit leaders  03:00 Reacting vs responding  03:40 Common emotional patterns (fear, defensiveness)  04:20 Making decisions from values vs emotions  05:10 Building awareness and catching reactions  05:40 Labelling emotions and shifting state  06:10 Practical tools to regulate emotions  06:40 Emotional fitness and leadership under pressure  07:00 Final takeaway Reflection Questions for Leaders • Where am I reacting instead of responding? • What emotion is driving my recent decisions? • Where am I avoiding tension instead of addressing it? • What would it look like to lead from my values instead of fear? #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #ModernLeadership #CourageousLeaders 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    7 min
  7. How Narcissistic Traits Show Up in Leaders (And Why It Matters) - Kathleen Saxton

    Apr 23

    How Narcissistic Traits Show Up in Leaders (And Why It Matters) - Kathleen Saxton

    What if the way you understand people is incomplete? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I am joined by Kathleen Saxton, Psychotherapist, Executive Coach, and Best-Selling Author, to explore the psychology behind behaviour, leadership, and one of the most misunderstood traits, narcissism. This conversation goes beyond labels. From how narcissism actually shows up in men and women, to identity, emotional patterns, and leadership blind spots, this episode challenges how we interpret people, power, and performance. Because often, what we think is happening is not the full picture. If you want to better understand human behaviour, navigate complex personalities, and become more self-aware as a leader, this episode will shift your perspective. What We Cover: 00:00 – Trailer 02:00 – The Courage to Walk Away from Toxic Situations 04:10 – Why People Stay in Toxic Jobs & Relationships 07:30 – Trauma, Therapy & Personal Backstory 10:15 – Narcissistic Relationships & Validation Trap 12:00 – What Narcissism Really Looks Like 14:10 – Narcissism: Traits vs Personality Disorder 18:00 – How Narcissists Manipulate & Control You 21:10 – The Dark Triad Explained 22:30 – Why Narcissists Become Leaders 26:15 – Why Companies Protect Toxic High Performers 31:40 – How to Handle a Narcissistic Boss 43:20 – Covert vs Grandiose Narcissists 47:10 – Can Narcissists Change? 50:10 – Are Narcissists Good Leaders? 58:00 – Character vs Performance in Leadership 01:05:00 – Final Advice: Protect Yourself & Your Integrity This is not just about understanding others. It is about understanding how you lead and show up. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    1h 8m
  8. Power Moves You Must Know As a Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    Apr 16

    Power Moves You Must Know As a Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes

    Power is always present in leadership… whether you realise it or not. In my work with leadership teams, I see how often power shows up in ways people don’t talk about. Not in obvious or intentional ways, but in the small moments. Who speaks first. Whose opinion carries weight. What gets challenged… and what gets left unsaid. In this episode, I break down the four ways power shows up inside executive teams, and how these patterns can quietly shape your culture, your decisions, and your results. From dominance and control, to holding back and avoiding challenge, these dynamics are happening in every team… whether you’re aware of them or not. This isn’t about removing power. It’s about understanding how you’re using it. Because the moment you can see it, you can change it.  00:00 How power shows up in your leadership 00:33 Where power shows up in executive teams 01:00 Why avoiding power creates problems 01:40 Power over when control takes over 02:35 The impact of shutting down discussion 03:23 When performance hides poor behaviour 03:46 Power under when leaders stop speaking up 04:38 The illusion of alignment in teams 05:06 Power with working as a collective 05:34 Power within building self trust as a leader 06:01 How pressure shifts leadership behaviour 06:26 Why people stop speaking up across the business 06:50 Three shifts to change how power is used 07:42 Why strong teams don’t avoid tension 08:08 Final reflection on how power is really being used This Episode Explores • Power dynamics in leadership teams • Executive team behaviour and decision making • Psychological safety and speaking up • Leadership self awareness • Managing dominance and control • Building stronger team alignment • Creating healthier leadership cultures Reflection Questions for Leaders • Where might I be using control instead of creating space for others • When do I hold back instead of speaking up • How do I react when I’m challenged • What is the impact of my behaviour on the team If this episode makes you pause or reflect, that’s where the real work starts. Leadership isn’t about removing pressure or power. It’s about understanding how you show up within it. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/  → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.  👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

    9 min
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About

The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level.  So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive.  Who is Joanna Howes? Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author.  Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders. Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees.  Website: https://thechangecreators.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@courageousleaderspodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.changecreators/Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/courageous_leaders/ Newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Information

  • Creator
    Joanna Howes
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    224
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Courageous Leaders Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Courageous Leaders Podcast

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